Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:29 PM

2019-20 Game of the Year Odds
August 19, 2019
By VI News

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook recently released its "Game of the Year" odds for specific matchups in the upcoming 2019-2020 NBA season.

2019-20 Game of the Year Odds

Home team listed on bottom

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019

Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers -6

Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers -2½

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Milwaukee Bucks
Houston Rockets -2½

Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors -1

Friday, Oct. 25, 2019

Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers -3½

Monday, Oct. 28, 2019

Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets -10

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019

Milwaukee Bucks -1½
Boston Celtics

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019

Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets -6

Milwaukee Bucks
Los Angeles Clippers -2

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019

Boston Celtics -6½
Charlotte Hornets

Friday, Nov. 8, 2019

Milwaukee Bucks
Utah Jazz -2

Philadelphia 76ers
Denver Nuggets -3

Monday, Nov. 11, 2019

Utah Jazz
Golden State Warriors -1

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers -2½

Thurdsay, Nov. 14, 2019

Dallas Mavericks -3½
New York Knicks

Brooklyn Nets
Denver Nuggets -7

Friday, Nov. 15, 2019

Utah Jazz -5½
Memphis Grizzlies

Boston Celtics
Golden State Warriors -4

Monday, Nov. 18, 2019

Portland Trail Blazers
Houston Rockets -6½

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019

Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets -2½

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019

Miami Heat
Philadelphia 76ers -8½

Monday, Nov. 25, 2019

Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors PK

Utah Jazz
Milwaukee Bucks -5

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019

Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics -5

Los Angeles Lakers -2
New Orleans Pelicans

Monday, Dec. 2, 2019

Utah Jazz
Philadelphia 76ers -5½

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Denver Nuggets
Boston Celtics -4½

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

Denver Nuggets
Philadelphia 76ers -5½

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

Los Angeles Clippers -2
Toronto Raptors

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019

Philadelphia 76ers -1
Boston Celtics

at Mexico City, Mexico
Dallas Mavericks -2½
Detroit Pions

Friday, Dec. 13, 2019

Golden State Warriors
Utah Jazz -5

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019

at Mexico City, Mexico
San Antonio Spurs -6
Phoenix Suns

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019

Los Angeles Lakers
Milwaukee Bucks -4½

Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers -5

Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019

Los Angeles Clippers -4½
Oklahoma City Thunder

Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019

Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors -2

Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers -3½

Houston Rockets
Golden State Warriors PK

Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers PK

New Orleans Pelicans
Denver Nuggets -8½

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019

New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets -7½

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019

Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets -5

Friday, Jan. 3, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Houston Rockets -3½

New Orleans Pelicans
Los Angeles Lakers -9

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020

Milwaukee Bucks -1½
Golden State Warriors

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020

Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers -8

Houston Rockets -4
Oklahoma City Thunder

Friday, Jan. 10, 2020

New Orleans Pelicans -1½
New York Knicks

Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers -6½

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020

Brooklyn Nets
Philadelphia 76ers -10

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020

Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks -9½

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020

Los Angeles Clippers -4
New Orleans Pelicans

Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets -4

Monday, Jan. 20, 2020

New Orleans Pelicans -2
Memphis Grizzlies

Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics -1

Golden State Warriors
Portland Trail Blazers -2½

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers -5½
New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors PK

Utah Jazz
Golden State Warriors -1½

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers
Brooklyn Nets -2

Friday, Jan. 24, 2020

at Paris, France
Milwaukee Bucks -11½
Charlotte Hornets

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers -4

Monday, Jan. 27, 2020

Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz -5

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020

Golden State Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers -6½

Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers PK

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020

Atlanta Hawks
Dallas Mavericks -6

Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics -1½

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020

Denver Nuggets
Utah Jazz -6½

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks -4½

Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers -3½

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors -1½

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020

Los Angeles Clippers
Philadelphia 76ers -3

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020

Los Angeles Clippers -1½
Boston Celtics

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020

Brooklyn Nets
Philadelphia 76ers -8

Houston Rockets
Golden State Warriors -1

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks -4½

Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz -2

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020

Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers -6½

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020

New Orleans Pelicans
Los Angeles Lakers -9

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020

Boston Celtics
Utah Jazz -9

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors -2

Friday, Feb. 28, 2020

Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles Clippers -6½

Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020

Houston Rockets
Boston Celtics -1½

Sunday, Mar. 1, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Clippers -5

Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers -3

Thursday, Mar. 5, 2020

Los Angeles Clippers
Houston Rockets -2½

Toronto Raptors
Golden State Warriors -7

Friday, Mar. 6, 2020

Milwaukee Bucks
Los Angeles Lakers -2

Saturday, Mar. 7, 2020

Philadelphia 76ers
Golden State Warriors -2

Sunday, Mar. 8, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers -3½

Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020

Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks -8

Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers -3½

Saturday, Mar. 14, 2020

Golden State Warriors
Milwaukee Bucks -6½

Sunday, Mar. 15, 2020

Houston Rockets
Portland Trail Blazers -1½

Monday, Mar. 16, 2020

Golden State Warriors
Toronto Raptors -1½

Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2020

Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers -3½

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2020

Los Angeles Clippers -2½
Brooklyn Nets

Houston Rockets
Milwaukee Bucks -4½

Thursday, Mar. 26, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers -7½
Cleveland Cavaliers

Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2020

Houston Rockets
Philadelphia 76ers -4

Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors -5½

Sunday, Apr. 5, 2020

Milwaukee Bucks -1½
Boston Celtics

Odds Subject to Change

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:31 PM

Spoelstra, Heat heading into post-Wade year with optimism
September 30, 2019
By The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) Erik Spoelstra bounded into his first Miami Heat news conference of the season looking tanned and relaxed, the benefit of having nearly six months off.

He's hoping next summer is much shorter.

Even without the now-retired Dwyane Wade and after a season where Miami didn't make the playoffs, Spoelstra said Monday at Heat media day that there's no reason for his team to not see big opportunities this season. The Heat landed four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler in July, and go to camp starting Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida with Spoelstra insisting that his expectations will be at their usual lofty level.

''Feels good to be back,'' said Spoelstra, entering his 12th season as Heat coach. ''We've had plenty of time this offseason to reset, recalibrate and reorganize to get ready for this season. It's been 172 days. I think that is probably 70some days too many for this organization to have during the offseason. ... We're excited. Feels like a new team, a new opportunity.''

There are new opportunities - and new challenges.

The Heat are the NBA's only team to enter training camp without their three top scorers from last season - Josh Richardson (now in Philadelphia as part of the Butler trade) scored 1,209 points, Wade scored 1,083 and Hassan Whiteside (now in Portland, also via the four-team deal that landed Butler) scored 887.

Miami returns basically half its scoring, 3-point shooting, rebounding, assists and shotblocking from last season. Clearly, Butler isn't going account for all those differences. So the Heat are counting on guards Dion Waiters and rookie Tyler Herro to fill some of the shooting gaps, betting center Bam Adebayo's numbers rise with additional minutes and hoping point guard Goran Dragic can be healthy for more than 36 games this season.

''Our camps are for competitors only,'' Spoelstra said. ''There are opportunities. But ultimately, this is about winning - and how can you contribute to winning.''

Spoelstra was amused by Butler's telling of the story last week about how when he was in Chicago he hated the Heat. Turns out, in the first five minutes of their first dinner together this summer after the deal got done, Spoelstra told Butler that the Heat hated going against him then as well.

Bonds started to immediately form.

''I like that our shootarounds are what they are supposed to be, you breaking a sweat,'' Butler said. ''I like that we compete in practice every single day. I like that every time we step onto this court, there is a certain way you have to look, there is a certain mentality you have to have. It's never like you just step on here just to go through the motions.''

Spoelstra's team shares his level of preseason optimism, even knowing there are tons of questions to answer such as who'll start at the point (Goran Dragic or Justise Winslow), who'll make up the closing lineup and who emerges as the next options after Butler.

''The sky's really the limit with this team,'' Heat forward Kelly Olynyk said. ''We have a lot of pieces to a puzzle and I think our pieces are going to fit together the best they have since I've been here. I think that's something you can't take for granted.''

Here's some of what to know going into Heat camp:

SCHEDULE

Miami is planning two-a-day practice sessions for each of the first four days of training camp, and isn't scheduled to have a day off until Oct. 10 - following a back-to-back against San Antonio and Charlotte to open its preseason slate.

TWO-WAYS

The Heat have six players in camp on what's called Exhibit 10 (one-year, non-guaranteed) contracts, and two of them will likely be converted into two-way deals before the season begins. Among top candidates: former Miami Hurricanes standout Davon Reed and former Kentucky guard Mychal Mulder - one of Adebayo's college roommates.

SWEET 17

Udonis Haslem is back for his 17th season in Miami. He's already had 130 different Heat teammates in his career, not counting the new faces that will make their first Miami appearances this season like Butler, Herro and Meyers Leonard.

HEALTH

All Heat players should be ready to practice Tuesday except Olynyk, who has a bone bruise in his knee that he thinks may take a couple more weeks. Olynyk believes he can still play at least one preseason game. Olynyk got hurt while playing for Team Canada this summer, and said he would like to play for his country again in 2020 during the Olympic qualifying tournament.

THE ROOKIE

Herro, the No. 13 overall draft pick, said he's benefited from spending a lot of time with Butler this summer. ''For him to take me under his wing early on just means a lot to me,'' Herro said.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:33 PM

The Latest: Heat's Spoelstra says Butler good fit in Miami
September 30, 2019
By The Associated Press

The Latest from NBA media days on Monday (all times EST):

12:35 p.m.

Zach Kleiman is the new man behind all the Memphis Grizzlies' roster moves.

He's been very busy since his promotion to executive vice president of basketball operations the day after last season ended for the Grizzlies.

Kleiman says, ''Who knew you could make so many trades?''

The biggest move by the now 31-year-old general manager came in June when Kleiman traded away point guard Mike Conley. The Grizzlies will try to build around new point guard Ja Morant, the No. 2 pick overall in the NBA draft.

Morant has also been busy getting used to Memphis, though apparently that doesn't include testing out all the restaurants.

The rookie says he has only really eaten at the Rendezvous, one of Memphis' many barbecue restaurants. The guard's father has been providing him plenty of home cooking.

Morant has taken some time to help promote Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers on social media. Morant says he plans to attend the Tigers' Memphis Madness on Thursday night at the FedExForum they share with the Grizzlies.

And yes, Morant, who played his two seasons at Murray State, says any top recruits looking for a college home should look at the Memphis Tigers.

- Teresa M. Walker in Memphis, Tennessee.

---

12:20 p.m.

The Charlotte Hornets are in major rebuilding mode.

They enter the season without all-time leading scorer Kemba Walker, who has signed this past offseason with the Celtics.

Hornets center Cody Zeller, who jokingly set up a lemonade stand before free agency began to help raise money to re-sign Walker, said Tuesday at the team's media day that it's tough losing the three-time All-Star because he felt like the Hornets were ''close'' to breaking through and becoming a playoff team with Walker.

Zeller says it feels like ''something is missing'' in the locker room without Walker and it will be tough to replace him because he was so well liked by teammates.

The center says ''it's going to be good'' for Walker in Boston. ''But yeah, it sucks for me a little bit.''

Zeller scored many of his points off of pick-and-roll sets with Walker.

- Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina

---

12:05 p.m.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott says he should have walked away from a fight with Eagles fans earlier this month at the stadium parking lots.

Scott was involved in a fight with Eagles fans while tailgating outside the stadium after he wore a Washington Redskins jersey and hat to the party. Scott said Monday at the 76ers media day that he heard racial slurs that escalated the fight.

Scott says he definitely has ''to be the bigger person. I definitely should have walked away. I didn't. He was talking crazy. He took it to the next level and I had to see if he's going to match the energy.''

Scott stuck around after the incident and took selfies, and snapped photos from his seat at Lincoln Financial Field. Scott has become a popular player in the city for responding to invitations on social media and showing up to hang out with fans. He dropped in at wedding reception earlier in the summer.

He didn't hold any grudges against Philly sports fans and would continue to become a man-about-town. Scott also laughed off the parking lot fight.

Says Scott, ''It's Philly. We had a brawl before noon.''

- Dan Gelston in Philadelphia

---

!0:30 a.m.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra spent part of his summer trying to build a relationship with new Heat wing Jimmy Butler, featuring phone calls and dinners and the sharing of ideas.

They get to work on the court for the first time Tuesday, when Miami opens camp - the first with Butler on the roster.

Spoelstra says ''it was the fit that matters to us. That's the only thing that counts.''

Butler is a four-time All-Star and Miami raves about what he can do both ends of the floor. Heat President Pat Riley says Butler is one of the 10 best players in the league, and Spoelstra says Butler ''will not shy away from big moments. ... Jimmy Butler is that kind of player.''

It took a four-team trade to get the deal that brought Butler to Miami done in July. The Heat gave up Josh Richardson (to Philadelphia) and Hassan Whiteside (to Portland) to make it happen.

- Tim Reynolds in Miami

---

5 a.m.

The NBA offseason is now over for everyone.

The vast majority of the league's media days are taking place Monday, with 23 teams gathering for the season's first official day of work. The six teams that are headed overseas for preseason games held media days on Friday and Saturday, with the Los Angeles Clippers going on Sunday in advance of their training-camp trip to Hawaii.

Golden State is among the teams having media day Monday, its first formal day of work at the team's new Chase Center home in San Francisco. NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks also have media day Monday.

Monday also marks the start of the preseason, with Houston playing host to the Shanghai Sharks.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:35 PM

Leonard and George quickly blending in with Clippers
September 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have already passed the chemistry test with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The two superstars have been quick to integrate themselves with their new team and the result is an easy, teasing camaraderie. Whether it's enough to advance the once beleaguered franchise past the second round of the playoffs for the first time - let alone win an NBA championship - remains to be seen.

But clearly these guys are already having fun.

There was a fishing trip and a paintball outing - yep, Patrick Beverley was so competitive he splattered his own teammates - that made early impressions in a season the Clippers hope will be their most memorable yet.

''If we maintain that, we're going to get through anything,'' George said Sunday at the team's media day.

Leonard and George may be the biggest fish on the roster, but neither caught the largest when several of the Clippers took to the water. That honor belonged to a woman on the boat.

And what happened to their fish shown off on social media?

''Like anybody else would do,'' Leonard replied. ''Have someone else fillet it, cook it, and eat it.''

But he and George don't expect to do all the heavy lifting this season.

''Everybody on the same page,'' George said of the collective mindset, ''and we go out as one.''

Leonard led Toronto to its first NBA title last season, and he ticked off the characteristics of a championship team: high character, sacrifice and will to win.

''Go out there as one unit trying to accomplish that one goal,'' he said. ''It's about enjoying the journey and not getting ahead of yourself. You also have to stay healthy as well.''

The upcoming season already feels different to Leonard. He's past the right quad injury from 2017-18 that hastened his departure from San Antonio and subsequent trade to the Raptors.

''This year I'm feeling way better than I was at the start of last season,'' he said, adding there's no plan yet for his load management.

It's possible the Clippers will be without George for their season opener Oct. 22 against LeBron James and the Lakers. He's still rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery that followed an injury-plagued ending to his time in Oklahoma City. George will be with the team at training camp in Hawaii starting Monday, but won't participate in contact.

Coach Doc Rivers was at the team's practice facility Sunday, but he didn't speak to the media.

Other things to know about the Clippers:

DEFENSE

Led by Beverley, the Clippers brought a ferocious attitude on defense last season.

His prediction with Leonard and George on the floor?

''That scrappiness attitude, but on steroids,'' Beverley said.

That being said, Beverley is making it a goal to cut down on his technical fouls.

Count Lou Williams as a skeptic.

''I don't know if there's a way to tell Pat Beverley to chill out,'' he said.

COMING HOME

Leonard and George are both glad to be back home. Leonard is from Riverside and George is from the high desert city of Palmdale, located north of Los Angeles.

''The fact that I'm unpacking instead of packing at this time is a surreal moment,'' George said.

Leonard has already reached out to local schools with a large-scale donation of backpacks. Despite his low-key reputation, Leonard wants to be visible in the community and ''for them to see me, for them to shake my hand.''

THE YOUNG GUYS

Leonard and George have been generous in sharing their knowledge with the younger Clippers, including Landry Shamet and Jerome Robinson.

Even with George sidelined early, he's still an influence.

''Sometimes guys don't have to do anything,'' Rodney McGruder said. ''It's just their presence.''

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:37 PM

Walton focused on Kings, not lawsuit
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Sacramento Kings first-year coach Luke Walton says he is focused on his team and not worried about a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault.

Walton spoke publicly Friday at Kings media day for the first time since a former sportscaster filed a civil suit against him in April accusing him of the assault.

''I'm here to do my job and focus on the Kings,'' Walton said. ''The rest will take care of itself.''

Walton was hired by the Kings in April, soon after being fired following three seasons as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was sued shortly after being hired by Kelli Tennant, a former host on Spectrum SportsNet LA, who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in 2014 when he was an assistant with the Golden State Warriors and harassing her after that during his tenure with the Lakers.

The Kings and the NBA investigated the charges but took no action against Walton when ''investigators determined that there was not a sufficient basis to support the allegations.'' Tennant did not participate in the investigation.

Walton still faces a civil suit but has said in a court filing that the allegations aren't backed up in facts. He said the suit is not a distraction to his job.

''My focus is on the Kings and what we're doing to get this group to the next level,'' he said.

Walton is trying to get the Kings back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the longest current postseason drought in the NBA. He takes over a young team featuring emerging stars like De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III.

The Kings hold their first practice Saturday before leaving next week for a trip to India, where they will play two exhibition games. That puts more emphasis on the early days of practice.

''We'll do more teaching than I'd normally do in the first practice or two,'' he said. ''There's a list of things I want to get in before we go to India. We want to make sure we get those in no matter how long we have to be on the court.''

Kings forward Harrison Barnes has been to India and has been telling his teammates how much he enjoyed the food, culture and passion of the fans for NBA basketball.

He also views the trip as a chance to bond with his teammates.

''I think the biggest thing for us is spending that time together,'' he said. ''I think that's what we're looking forward to most about this India trip and about this training camp period is just guys being around each other.''

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:38 PM

LeBron, AD already sharing a bond
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) From the Warner Bros. soundstages to a private workout retreat in Las Vegas, LeBron James and Anthony Davis spent a whole lot of their long summer together.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstars say they've already formed a bond before they hit the court as teammates. That offseason work is the foundation for their efforts to build an immediate contender together with this long-struggling franchise.

When the Lakers reported to their training complex Friday, LeBron and AD were the center of attention amid the revamped roster they helped to create. They posed for photos, joked easily with themselves and their teammates, and generally looked like they've been together for years.

''It's exciting to have such a beautiful young mind, a beautiful player, but also a great leader as well,'' James said. ''I think it's a great opportunity for this franchise to have such an all-around great person. The basketball will speak for itself.''

Although Davis has one year left on his contract before free agency, the Lakers left no doubt they're planning for a long-term future with the vaunted big man and his decorated new teammate. The Lakers' roster was thoroughly revamped in the offseason, and general manager Rob Pelinka constantly consulted with James and Davis via three-way phone calls and text chains.

''I think the front office did a great job of including LeBron and myself in the decisions to build this team,'' Davis said. ''Every guy that is on this team, me and LeBron had a say-so in, and I think that's very important. It would be pretty weird to go to war with a guy you don't really like, so they made sure to include us in every decision.''

They also defeated the Monstars together, at least presumably: James spent part of his summer starring in ''Space Jam 2'' for Warner Bros., and he roped in Davis to play a part in the film coming out next year.

Unlike his media mogul teammate, Davis chuckled and said his role in the sequel is ''a one-time thing. That was very time-consuming. At least right now, I don't see any more movies in my near future, but it was a fun experience.''

James was the star of that show, but he doesn't care about being the unquestioned star of the Lakers. In fact, James declared his hope that the Lakers' offense will run through Davis, who is averaging 23.7 points per game over his seven-year NBA career.

''We all know how great Anthony Davis is, and if we're not playing through Anthony Davis, why is he on the floor then?'' James asked. ''It makes no sense to have him on the floor, because he's that great. That doesn't mean every time down the floor we throw it to him, but we have the ability to do that.''

When he wasn't dunking on cartoons, Davis also played a role in recruiting players to LA and persuading others to stay with the franchise he had just joined. The Lakers added sharpshooting veterans Danny Green, Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels in a bid to get the valuable spacing that will make the superstars more effective.

''I just told guys we definitely have the opportunity to do something special here this year,'' Davis said. ''All you can ask for is a chance in this league, and we definitely have a chance to do something special.''

More things to know from the Lakers' training complex:

KUZMA'S HEALTH

Kyle Kuzma was upbeat despite a stress reaction in his left foot that will sideline him until at least mid-October. The third-year forward has set a goal to become an All-Star as the only remaining member of the Lakers' young core, which was broken up in the trade for Davis.

''Obviously I was disappointed, but it was good that we caught what I have at the right time,'' said Kuzma, who felt the injury while training with the U.S. national team.

DWIGHT RETURNS

Dwight Howard is back in the Lakers' jersey for the first time since he left in 2013, the start of six unsatisfying years for the big man and the team he left behind. Howard's new teammates say he is humbler, more introspective and determined to excel as a role player or something bigger.

''I expect my teammates to hold me to a high standard, because I hole myself to one,'' Howard said. ''My job is to be the best Dwight Howard and the best teammate I can be.''

DEMARCUS DOWN

DeMarcus Cousins wasn't available to reporters, but the big man was in his teammates' thoughts. Davis is disappointed he probably won't get a reunion with the star center, who badly injured his knee in an offseason workout shortly after signing with the Lakers.

''I was shocked, just knowing that he worked so hard to try to get back from his quad and his Achilles,'' Davis said. ''He hasn't really had the opportunity to be old DeMarcus, and he wanted this year to be the year, because he felt like he was very healthy, and then the ACL happened. But he's in good spirits. He's just happy to be here and still be around the team, and we support him all the way through.''

VOGEL'S START

The Lakers' new head coach almost got lost in the shuffle of media day. Frank Vogel and a coaching staff including Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins will take charge for the Lakers' opening practice Saturday with the goal of building a cohesive team out of all these new parts.

Vogel isn't giving away a potential starting lineup or rotations just yet, but he is thrilled to take over a team with strong veteran leadership.

''When the belief is strong at the outset, then it's about focusing in on the work, and we're looking forward to getting after it,'' Vogel said.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:40 PM

Rebuilding Hawks show signs of hope
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) As the Atlanta Hawks head into the third year of a massive overhaul, there are definite signs of hope.

They might even have a shot at the playoffs in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

But, as the team prepares to open training camp with an intriguing core of young players, those in charge aren't in any hurry to rush the process.

''We haven't done anything,'' coach Lloyd Pierce said Friday. ''I don't want any our guys thinking we've accomplished anything just yet.''

Indeed, the Hawks won just 29 games a season ago, so this is still very much a long-term project.

But general manager Travis Schlenk has taken major strides in constructing a totally new roster, one that follows the blueprint laid out by his former employer, the three-time champion Golden State Warriors.

Trae Young and John Collins have already established themselves as two of the NBA's brightest young prospects. Kevin Huerter made big strides during his rookie season. De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Bruno Fernando were drafted this year to further bolster the roster. Former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker was signed in free agency.

None are older than 24.

''We need to see what this little young core can do together,'' Schlenk said. ''Do they fit together? We certainly think they're going to fit together nicely. That's the plan. But we haven't been able to see it yet. We need to see those guys in action. That doesn't mean a month. I'm talking about seeing them together for a whole year.''

Schlenk will concede there are no certainties in the rebuilding game, that much of the process is just gut instinct hopefully coupled with a lot of luck.

When he was at Golden State, no one knew that Stephen Curry would develop into one of the NBA's biggest stars. But the front office began to sense something special was happening when a sixth-seeded team won a playoff series and took San Antonio to six games in the second round in 2013, so the decision was made to pursue a risky trade for Andre Iguodala.

Two seasons later, the Warriors won the first of what would be three titles in a run of five straight trips to the NBA Finals.

Remembering how the Iguodala trade fell into place, Schlenk said, ''We could continue to go with these young guys, but we have a veteran who wants to come play with these young guys. We knew that would speed up the timeline, but we felt like we had a chance with that acquisition to become a really good team.''

The Hawks aren't in that position.

Not yet anyway.

The big push could come next year, when expiring contracts will free up some $64 million for free agency or trades.

''We're not going to really know until we see this young group play together,'' Schlenk said. ''I can't sit here and say today, unless you're one of a handful of teams, that we have a chance to be special.''

When training camp begins on Tuesday, the Hawks will be keeping a watchful eye on several of their young players.

Collins is dealing with a right hip strain, so his workload will be limited during the preseason. The same goes for Huerter, who returned to Atlanta late last month complaining of a sore knee. An MRI showed no structural damage, but the Hawks won't take any chances.

Then there's Reddish, the No. 10 overall pick out of Duke. While he has been fully cleared to resume on-court activities after undergoing core muscle surgery, the team will carefully monitor his workload leading up to the regular season.

Pierce said it's vital that the Hawks keep everyone healthy if they're going to take the next step in their development.

''It's hard when you're putting a team together, especially a young team, if you can't see them all out there together,'' he said. ''It's really hard to see what to expect moving forward and having that breakthrough moment. That's part of the reason why we're being cautious and will remain cautious with every guy. We're in no rush to advance anyone. We don't want to skip steps. Health is at the forefront of everything we do, then take it from there.''

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:41 PM

Harden pairs with Westbrook for title chase
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) James Harden isn't listening to anyone who is worried about how things will work in Houston with the addition of Russell Westbrook.

The Beard is convinced things will be great and believes the move is not only good for the Rockets as they chase their first title since 1995, but that it also is a positive change for Westbrook after being the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder for more than a decade.

''He just comes to entirely different chapter in his life to go out there and just play and doesn't have to go out there and worry about the pressure of carrying an entire organization,'' Harden said. ''I'm excited for him.''

Questions about how these two ball-dominate guards will coexist in Houston have swirled since the Rockets shipped Chris Paul to Oklahoma City this summer in exchange for Westbrook. Only time will tell if the pairing of these two MVPs will be the push this team needs to finally win another championship.

Until then everyone in the organization insists that it will work because Harden and Westbrook want it to.

''If Russ got it going and Russ is on one of those games we've all seen before, guess what I'm going to do? Sit back and watch the show,'' Harden said leaning back and crossing his arms.

Westbrook also insisted that he isn't the least bit worried about how they'll mesh playing together for the first time since Harden was traded from the Thunder after the 2012 season. Westbrook, an eight-time All-Star, listed all the ways he can impact the game aside from scoring, reeling off all his skills from rebounding to being a leader.

''When it comes to me and James playing together, who's going to have the ball, who's not going to have the ball, it really doesn't matter,'' he said. ''My goal is to win a championship so whatever it takes to do that that's what I'm going to do.''

Coach Mike D'Antoni was quick to point out that not too long ago there were similar concerns about how Harden would adjust to playing with Paul. Those worries soon dissipated when Houston won a franchise-record 65 regular-season games and reached the Western Conference finals in Paul's first season with the team in 2017-18.

''It works itself out,'' D'Antoni said. ''You try not to over-coach it. We need Russell to be Russell. We don't want to change him. He's an MVP.''

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire restaurant and casino owner, recalled seeing Westbrook play against the Rockets last season.

''I watched Oklahoma kick our butts twice last year and there was this guy that would get a rebound and have it dunked on the other side when our guys started to run down the court,'' Fertitta said. ''And I thought what would it be like to have this guy on our team?''

Now that he is, Fertitta has high expectations for what he and Harden can do this season.

''I know I'm really excited, so I hope they don't let me down,'' he said.

Some things to know about the Rockets as they start camp.

VETERAN PRESENCE

The Rockets signed veteran center Tyson Chandler this summer in hopes of improving their rebounding and to take some of the load off starter Clint Capela. Chandler, who'll turn 37 next week, was the second overall pick in the 2001 draft.

When Chandler started his career his goal was to play for 10 years and he never dreamed he'd play nearly twice that long.

''That's why I'm wearing 19 this year. I came in at 19. This is my 19th season,'' he said. ''I couldn't imagine being here. I wear it on my chest because I feel blessed and fortunate to be here.''

MOST FASHIONABLE TEAM EVER?

Now that Westbrook has joined a team that already had style stars Harden and P.J. Tucker, the Rockets could be the most fashionable NBA team ever.

Westbrook laughed when asked if he thought that was the case before he got serious.

''Probably so,'' he said. ''If I think about it probably so.''

Tucker, who is often referred to as the league's Sneaker King, also has impeccable style and was seen on the front row at many of the shows during fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milan this offseason. So when a reporter asked if he'd need to step his fashion game up now that Westbrook was on the team he was taken a bit off guard.

''Step it up? Nah, I'm good,'' he said smiling.

Players have been photographed for several years entering the arena in their designer outfits. But with the style star power on this team, Harden joked that they might have to take that ritual up a notch this year.

''It's going to be a runway,'' he said. ''We'll have a red carpet. We'll have music. We'll have the whole nine yards. So be ready for it.''

D'ANTONI'S CONTRACT

The Rockets weren't able to work out a contract extension with D'Antoni this offseason, leaving him with just one year left on the deal he signed when he joined the team in 2016. Despite the inability to come to terms on a new deal, Fertitta isn't concerned about D'Antoni's future with the team.

''He's a great coach,'' Fertitta said. ''He's one of the great offensive minds out there. I truly do not see Mike going anywhere.''

The 68-year-old D'Antoni is 173-73 in three seasons in Houston.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:43 PM

Pacers' Oladipo unsure when he'll return
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

The Latest from NBA media days on Friday (all times EST):

5:05 p.m.

Anthony Davis is still disappointed that his Los Angeles reunion with DeMarcus Cousins was ruined by another injury.

Davis' first media day with the Los Angeles Lakers Friday included his reaction to a likely season-ending knee injury incurred during the summer by Cousins. The former New Orleans teammates probably won't get to play together this season as planned.

Davis says he ''was shocked, just knowing that he worked so hard to try to get back from his quad and his Achilles. He hasn't really had the opportunity to be the old DeMarcus, and he wanted this to be the year, and then the ACL happened. He's in good spirits. He's just happy to be here and still be around the team, and we support him all the way through.''

The Lakers have kept Cousins around the team despite his injury and the investigation of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against the veteran center.

General manager Rob Pelinka says the Lakers are following the NBA's lead in the legal matters surrounding Cousins, but they take domestic violence ''very seriously.''

---

4:30 p.m.

LeBron James had his longest summer in 14 years, but he didn't relax much on the days that weren't Taco Tuesdays.

James is back to work with the Los Angeles Lakers after missing the playoffs for the first time since his second year in the NBA.

With plenty of free time on his hands, James filmed ''Space Jam 2,'' which will be released next summer. But those early call times at Warner Bros. meant he had to rise before dawn to complete his daily workouts.

After shooting wound down and the Lakers completed their roster, James and Anthony Davis invited their teammates to Las Vegas for several days of workouts and bonding.

James says he is more motivated than ever to win big with the Lakers, who have missed the playoffs for six straight years.

The three-time NBA champion says ''as a team and myself, we need to get the Lakers back to what they've been accustomed to over the years, so I'm excited about that.''

---

3 p.m.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka says LeBron James and Anthony Davis had an active role in the construction of the team's roster this summer.

The Lakers opened their annual media day Friday with optimistic comments from Pelinka and new coach Frank Vogel about the roster assembled around the franchise's superstars.

Pelinka says he had numerous three-way phone calls and text chains with James and Davis, who was acquired in July. James and Davis approved of the Lakers' decision to sign Dwight Howard.

The GM says James ''was incredibly locked in to the whole process, and has been great to work with.''

- Greg Beacham in El Segundo, California

---

1:30 p.m.

Kyrie Irving believes Kevin Durant was rushed back to play in the NBA Finals before he was ready.

Irving said Friday during Nets media day the decision to bring Durant back in Game 5 in Toronto was made ''to end up selling a product that came before the person, Kevin.''

Durant had been recovering from a calf injury earlier in the postseason when he returned to play for Golden State in Game 5. He lasted just 12 minutes before going down with a ruptured Achilles tendon that required surgery.

Irving adds that Durant ''was not ready to play in that environment. We all know that, whether people want to admit it or not.''

The two All-Stars then signed with the Brooklyn Nets in July. The Nets say they expect Durant to miss the season, though the All-Star forward says he makes his own decisions.

- Brian Mahoney in New York

---

12:10 p.m.

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo still hasn't set a target date for his return - but he is back on the court less eight months after rupturing a quad tendon in his right knee.

The two-time All-Star suffered the season-ending injury Jan, 24. Coach Nate McMillan and president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard have remained relatively quiet about when they expect to have Oladipo back.

But center Myles Turner is hopeful Oladipo returns in December or January.

''I've heard some people say after the All-Star break, but I just know how Vic's wired,'' Turner said Friday at the team's annual media day. ''He's been attacking the whole process. He's already doing stuff on the court.''

Oladipo says Wolverine has always been his favorite comic book character because he has the ability to heal himself.

- Michael Marot in Indianapolis

---

9:15 a.m.

LeBron James is expected to speak about a season of great expectations for himself and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers, as the annual rundown of media days get underway around the NBA.

The Lakers are among five teams holding their media-day sessions Friday, the others include Houston, Sacramento, Indiana and Brooklyn. Reigning NBA champion Toronto holds its media day on Saturday.

Those teams were permitted to open training camps earlier than most because of the league's rule allowing those clubs going overseas for preseason games to get some additional preparation time.

The Los Angeles Clippers have media day on Sunday because they're headed to Hawaii for training camp. The remaining 23 teams have them scheduled for Monday.

The first preseason game is Monday, with the Rockets playing host to the Shanghai Sharks.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2019, 02:56 PM

LeBron, Lakers among those up first
September 27, 2019
By The Associated Press

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving appeared in the black uniforms of the Brooklyn Nets. Anthony Davis wore the Los Angeles Lakers' home gold uniform. Russell Westbrook donned Houston Rockets' red for the first time.

New season, new looks.

The first five media days of the new NBA year took place Friday with the Lakers, Nets, Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings holding the annual prequels to the first practice. And in Miami, where media day isn't officially until Monday, Jimmy Butler did his first interviews wearing a new Heat jersey - one he famously said years ago that he'd never wear.

Clearly, Day 1 of camp season wasn't hurting for star power.

''We want to be able to compete every single night and obviously we know what the long-term goal is,'' three-time NBA champion LeBron James said at Lakers' media day. ''But it's all about the process of today.''

James and the Lakers are entering a season of massive expectations, largely because of Davis coming to L.A. James said he wants the Lakers to run offense through Davis much in the same way he wanted it run through Irving when they were teammates in Cleveland - citing the potential for such a ploy to create mismatches and opportunities for others.

''It's exciting to have such a beautiful young mind,'' James said.

But expectations are high elsewhere as well.

In Houston, Westbrook and James Harden will form a backcourt that consists of two of the last three NBA MVPs. Westbrook talked about how he and Harden have been close and stayed close going back to their time as teammates together in Oklahoma City.

''The bigger picture obviously in the NBA is the championships and MVPs and all that nonsense,'' Westbrook said. ''But for me, it's about brotherhood and creating relationships and friendships with somebody that's important.''

And another star duo - like James and Davis, like Westbrook and Harden - is now formed in Brooklyn with Irving and Durant, though it'll likely take a year for it to be seen on the court. Durant is likely to miss the entire season while recovering from a torn Achilles, and offered a pretty succinct explanation about why he left Golden State after three seasons and two titles for Brooklyn.

''I felt like it was time for a change and I wanted to play for a new team,'' Durant said. ''And simply put, I just did it. I didn't really think about what I was leaving behind or like what we accomplished. I put that up on the shelf already. And when it was time to make a decision on my future, I just thought solely about me.''

Victor Oladipo wants Indiana to have big expectations as well, and he believes the Pacers are the best team in the Eastern Conference.

It's a bold statement, and one that could hinge on when he returns from the severe knee injury that ended his 2018-19 season prematurely. The Pacers don't know when Oladipo will be back on the floor this season.

''I know that he will not start the season,'' Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. ''I haven't had any information given to me that he will be practicing live with the team anytime soon, so I don't anticipate Victor being available for a while. I don't really know what `a while' is.''

For his part, Oladipo said he'll be a better player when he returns.

He didn't divulge what that will mean.

''I could show you better than I tell you,'' Oladipo said. ''I don't like telling people stuff. I like showing them. I'm that type of guy.''

Luke Walton was on the move this offseason as well, his stint as Lakers coach ending and his focus shifting to the northern end of California and his new job with the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings, like all the teams opening practice on Saturday or Sunday, are going overseas for part of the preseason; Sacramento is going to play in the first games held in India, the homeland of Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.

''It's a very exciting opportunity for us,'' Walton said. ''We'll use it as a great chance to bond as a group.''

NBA champion Toronto has media day on Saturday, the Los Angeles Clippers - now featuring Paul George and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard - have theirs on Sunday and the remaining 23 teams have media day Monday.

The first preseason game is Monday, with the Rockets playing host to the Shanghai Sharks.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-07-2019, 01:47 PM

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

NO at TOR 08:00 PM
TOR -6.0

LAL at LAC 10:30 PM
LAL +1.0

**StarDust Bum** · 10-08-2019, 01:52 PM

Could Yao Ming mend the fences between the NBA and China?
October 8, 2019
By The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) Yao Ming could be the man in the middle if the NBA and China are going to mend fences.

Yao is a former Houston Rockets great and a basketball Hall of Famer. At home, the towering center is even larger as head of the Chinese Basketball Association and one of the most recognizable figures in the country.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants to talk to him - soon.

''I'm hoping together that Yao Ming and I can find accommodation,'' Silver said Tuesday. ''But he is extremely hot at the moment, and I understand it.''

Silver spoke at a news conference in Tokyo before an exhibition game between the Rockets and the NBA champion Toronto Raptors. He defended the right of Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to tweet last week in support of anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

The tweet has since been deleted. But Silver made it clear what the NBA stands for.

''I understand there are consequences,'' he said. ''We are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression. I regret that so many people (in China) are upset, including millions and millions of our fans.''

Silver said his office had talked with Yao and suggested the two might meet when he travels on Wednesday to Shanghai. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets play exhibitions on Thursday in Shanghai and on Saturday in the southern city of Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong.

China state broadcaster CCTV has said it will not air the two exhibition games.

''There's no question that Daryl's tweet has hit what I would describe as a third-rail issue in China,'' Silver said. ''I think Yao is extremely unsettled. I'm not quite sure he accepts how we are operating our business right now.''

Silver said he and Yao ''have been close friends since the joined the league.'' He talked of finding ''mutual respect for each other's political systems and beliefs.''

Players and coaches were asked about the rift after the Raptors beat the Rockets 134-129.

''It's not a distraction,'' Rockets guard Russell Westbrook. ''We're focused on our team and getting better.''

Basketball is very popular in China, driven by roots put down there for three decades by the NBA, and by Yao's popular career as the first and only Chinese superstar in the league.

''But I'm a realist as well and I recognize that this issue may not die down so quickly,'' Silver said.

The CBA, a government-directed body headed by Yao, has suspended its relationship with the Rockets as a response to Morey's tweet, which read ''Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.''

Silver said the disputed tweet may have inadvertently raised the issues surrounding Hong Kong to a wide audience, perhaps to some sports fans ''who might not otherwise pay attention. Sports shines a light on them.''

''Certainly, I don't come here as the commissioner of the NBA and an American to tell others how to run their governments,'' Silver added. ''At the end of the day, though, I am an American and there are some values that are deeply rooted in the DNA of the NBA. That includes freedom of expression for our employees.''

**StarDust Bum** · 10-16-2019, 03:00 PM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Interesting college football games on this week’s card:

— UCLA @ Stanford (-6.5)

— Indiana (-6) @ Maryland

— Boise State (-6.5) @ BYU

— TCU (-3.5) @ Kansas Sate

— Texas A&M (-6.5) @ Ole Miss

— Tulane @ Memphis (-4.5)

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Mid-week musings……

13) Washington 7, St Louis 4— At one point in May, the Nationals were 19-31, 8.5 games out of first place, only 1.5 games ahead of the woeful Marlins. Manager Dave Martinez seemed certain to be fired, but now he is here, managing the first Wild Card team to make a World Series since Giants/Royals in 2014.

12) Sitting on the airplane coming home last night, and find out the Rams cleaned house a little Tuesday; starting CB Aqib Talib was put on the IR, the other starting CB Marcus Peters got traded to the Ravens for a reserve LB.

Later LA acquired a reserve lineman from the Browns, and they traded a couple of #1 picks to the Jaguars for disgruntled star CB Jalen Ramsey, who hopefully now will be gruntled.

11) Rams took QB Jared Goff in the first round of the 2016 draft; here are their 1st round picks since then:

2017: Traded to Tennessee to help get the pick they used to take Goff.
2018: Traded to New England for WR Brandin Cooks.
2019: Traded to Atlanta for multiple lower picks.
2020-21: Traded to Jacksonville for Jalen Ramsey.

10) Now that I’m back from my excellent vacation to Las Vegas, a story from my 2nd night there; I’m leaving the person’s name out, because it isn’t relevant or right, but this was kind of fun.

I’m sitting at the Vdara hotel bar, shooting the breeze with some guy from Sacramento who owns a lot of buildings and is apparently wealthy; his very attractive wife is sitting next to him, laughing at his quips as he tells me in detail how he met her a few years ago, they fell in love, they both dumped their spouses, and finally got married a few months ago. Alrighty then.

A couple of women sit at the bar near us, and Mr Sacramento starts bantering with them; the women are old high school friends from Florida who are having a reunion. Mr Sacramento asks them if they’re from Canada; I’m not sure why.

At one point, one of the two women asks us, “Any of you baseball fans?” I say that I am, and she points to her friend— “This is Player X’s mom”. Player X is a major league player who happened to have been on my fantasy team the last couple years.

I quickly impress Mrs X by blurting out some useless info about her son, then tell her I traded him in April, before his best hot streak of the season. She mocked me for trading her son, but we became buddies and talked baseball and other stuff for the next hour or so.

Unfortunately for me she is married and a nice lady, so it ended there, but it made me laugh at myself. Also, the two guys I got for her son are both OK players, the pitcher I got is a good prospect.

Originally called that a quick story, but had to delete the word quick. Moving right along……

9) Win for me; flew home during a Presidential debate, so I missed it. Also missed couple of playoff games, but followed along on Twitter on the airplane. Politicians? Not so much.

8) NFL underdogs are 55-35-1 ATS so far this season, 40-20-1 on the road.

7) From AdamJT: Dallas Cowboys are the only NFL team that hasn’t started a drive in its opponent’s territory so far this season. The other 31 teams have started an average of 5.9 drives in opponents’ territory, and four teams have started 10+.

6) Tennessee Titans will start Ryan Tannehill at QB Sunday against the struggling Chargers, benching Marcus Mariota; if my favorite NFL team had Tannehill/Mariota at QB, I wouldn’t be a happy human.

Tannehill was a wide receiver until his junior year at Texas A&M; maybe he should play for the Bengals, since it was Mike Sherman who made Tannehill a QB, and Bengals’ coach Zac Taylor is Sherman’s son-in-law.

5) First college basketball game on CBS College Sports November 5: Utah @ Nevada, which is a pretty good game for opening night, Steve Alford’s first game coaching the Wolf Pack.

4) Phil Mickelson is ranked #47 in the world this week; he hasn’t been ranked outside the top-50 in the World Golf Rankings since November 28, 1993.

3) Major League Baseball plans to open a 17,000-square-foot flagship retail store in Manhattan next summer, at 50th St and 6th Ave; what took them so long?

2) Cardinals’ manager Mike Shildt mentioned the other day how data exists showing that the average fly ball was traveling 4.5 fewer feet during the playoffs, as opposed to the regular season.

1) Washington winning the NLCS leaves the Seattle Mariners as the only major league team that has never played in a World Series.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-16-2019, 03:02 PM

Column: Clumsy words tarnish the LeBron brand
October 16, 2019
By The Associated Press

LeBron James had time, and plenty of it, to figure out how best to answer the questions he knew were coming. Long days in hotel rooms in China and a long flight home gave him every chance to carefully craft a response to a controversy he had no part in making but one that directly affects his bank account.

Instead James chose to wing it. He blamed the messenger instead of addressing the message.

And the LeBron brand may never be the same.

He's still one of the greatest basketball players ever, that hasn't changed. But in the space of just a few sentences Monday night James may have abdicated his spot as someone who should be listened carefully to when it comes to social issues.

No one was asking James to come out in support of protesters in Hong Kong. That was always a bridge too far for a player who makes millions in the lucrative Chinese market.

But a player who has always prided himself on speaking out on issues ranging from Trayvon Martin to Colin Kaepernick should have made sure in this instance that he was speaking out the strongest in support of free speech.

James didn't, at least when it comes to Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and the firestorm Morey set off with his tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters. In his first comments since returning from China, James cast Morey as being ''either misinformed or not really educated on the situation'' in Hong Kong and not understanding how many people in the NBA could be affected by his tweet.

While James mentioned free speech, in his bungled attempt to chastise Morey what people heard was human rights are great. But don't let them get in the way of the NBA's China cash cow.

The words were clumsy, almost as if James himself was misinformed or not really educated on the situation. Seemingly realizing that, James followed them with a pair of tweets that did little other than rile up people even further on social media.

He also riled up some protesters in Hong Kong, where on Tuesday some were seen stomping on - and in one case - burning his jersey.

Not exactly the way James wanted to start the NBA season. Up until a few days ago, the biggest thing James had to worry about was meshing with new teammate Anthony Davis and finding a way for his Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Golden State Warriors.

Now he's under fire from both sides in a dispute he had no part in making, but one where he will pay a price - and not just in endorsement opportunities in China.

No one expects James to be an expert on the dispute in Hong Kong, where protesters are chafing under increased Chinese control. But they should expect him to do what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver did last week in China - acknowledge that everyone doesn't look at things the same but that everyone has the right to express their opinion and just leave it at that.

Those opinions were hard to find across the NBA on Tuesday, a week before the opening of the 2019 season. That was especially true in Houston where Morey has yet to resurface and players like James Harden and Tyson Chandler joined coach Mike D'Antoni in either declining comment or saying basically nothing.

Even Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach who has an opinion on most issues of the day and seems to relish sparring with President Donald Trump, is keeping relatively quiet. Kerr demurred last week when asked whether he thought Morey was wrong in sending out the tweet, saying instead that basketball ''should be a force for the greater good.''

That earned Kerr a tweet from Trump, who said it was ''So funny to watch Steve Kerr grovel and pander when asked a simple question about China.''

Indeed, James is not the only one caught in a heated dispute where middle ground will be hard - if not impossible - to find. He's not the only one who stands to lose money - and a lot of it - should the damage to a relationship carefully cultivated over three decades be undone by a Friday night tweet.

He's got a right to market himself in China without getting involved in the country's internal politics, and that's fine. Few begrudge James his millions, and few - at least on this side of the world - are particularly interested in what he thinks about the relationship Hong Kong has with China.

Words matter, though, and so does the right to voice them. Free speech may be an empty concept in China, but it's the very bedrock of democracy in the United States.

Like a lot of us, James is lucky to live in a country where that right is a given.

Hopefully he'll be thinking more about that the next time he speaks up.

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